Comment A couple of potentially silly ideas... (Score 1) 632
I certainly agree that speed limits are abused to provide easy revenue. My dad once got a speeding ticket in Lousiana while sitting at a red light - the trooper noticed the out of state tag and wrote him a ticket "because you must have been speeding somewhere."
Sure, the ticket can be fought - but who really expects to win and come out cheaper than the fine?
Maybe the key is to take away the incentive: rule that fines do NOT go to the ticket issuing entity - and that all identifying info is stripped from the revenue. Ok, so heck if I know where the money should go - and legitimate damages should certianly still go to the injured party; but fines are punitive in nature. Theoretically this means they are most important as a punishment on the wrongdoer - where the cash GOES isn't as important as taking it away from the convict.
And am I the only one who thinks that the sort of thinking engendered from punishing your constituents (erratically and irrationally) for revenue is toxic to good governance?
Heck, if they were serious about enforcing the speed limits they would just use cameras - and mail you the ticket; this might let the Highway Patrol get back to their actual job of searching for shipments of contraband, stopping flagrantly reckless / drunk drivers, helping distressed motorists, and generally making use of the roads safer for all of us.
Just my two cents.
Sure, the ticket can be fought - but who really expects to win and come out cheaper than the fine?
Maybe the key is to take away the incentive: rule that fines do NOT go to the ticket issuing entity - and that all identifying info is stripped from the revenue. Ok, so heck if I know where the money should go - and legitimate damages should certianly still go to the injured party; but fines are punitive in nature. Theoretically this means they are most important as a punishment on the wrongdoer - where the cash GOES isn't as important as taking it away from the convict.
And am I the only one who thinks that the sort of thinking engendered from punishing your constituents (erratically and irrationally) for revenue is toxic to good governance?
Heck, if they were serious about enforcing the speed limits they would just use cameras - and mail you the ticket; this might let the Highway Patrol get back to their actual job of searching for shipments of contraband, stopping flagrantly reckless / drunk drivers, helping distressed motorists, and generally making use of the roads safer for all of us.
Just my two cents.
